Internal-combustion engine.



C'. DE ALBERTIS.

INTERNAL COMBUSUON ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1917.

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I 14/ /4 /4A Invsamr v 0 DE ALBERTIS.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. I917. 1,290,925. Patented Jan. 14,1919.

& 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. u 0 1/ G i A I5 I 6' c M l nu 'c -c /5 ,4

El I 5 2/ To all whom it may concern:

CLAUDE DE ALBERTIS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

' mrnnnnn-comnusrron ENGINE.

Be it known that I, CLAUDE DE Arsnn'rrs, a subject of the King of Italy, and residing at- London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following.

is a specification. r v This mventlonyhas reference to lnternal combustion eng nes workmg onthe 'twostroke, fourstroke or other cycle.

The present invention relates to. a sim- ,plified and improved form of internal com: bustion engine of the type in which the charge of compressed explosive'mixture is ignited by the introduction thereinto'of a more highly compressed charge of burnt gases and in which the explosive-charge is compressed in one 'cylinderwhile expansion takes place simultaneously in two cylinders. 1

According to the-present invention, separated cylinders areemployed'with a single passage between each pumping '(or higher pressure) cylinder and the oneor more lower pressure: cylinders which it serves. A

Valve which when opened allows intercommunication between. the two cylinders is arranged in each: passage. Each pumping cylinder has a separate piston and connecting rod and where the cyllnders are arranged vertically'they are parallel and side by side. The firing charge of extracompressed burnt gas is pumped direct from the head of the pumping cylinder through the valve-controlled singlepassage into the combustion head of thelower pressure cylinder.

In this way the passage traversed by the fir- -'ing charge from the pumping cylinder is reduced in length to the minimumso that loss by heat radiation is .avoided, and the construction and the working of the improved engine are simplified.

The pumping or higher pressure cylinder has no communication with atmospheric air and in the case of a four-stroke engine, it

delivers alternatelyto two cylinders.

The invention also relates to means for varying the moment at which the valve, through which the firing charge. passes, is opened, so that the timing of the explosion can be varied. f

Upon the accompanying sheetof drawings, I have shown the present invention applied to a four-cylinder four-stroke engine,

two pairs of vertical cylinders being provided with intermediate vertical cylinders of higher pressure. Figure 1 is a sectlonal ele- Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,807.

- Patented Jan.14, 1919.

vation on line A-B'of Fig. 2, showingone half of the complete engine. 7 Fig.2 is a sec?- tional plan on line 0-1) of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line EF of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on. line.G-H of Fig. 3. The cylinders shown in Figs. 3

- and 4 complete the engine illustrated-by way,

of example. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, showing diagrammatically a suitable method of controlling-the time of the ignition, correspondlng with the usual spark'advance or retard mechanism. Fig. 6-is a diagrammatic elevation 'showlng the present invention applied to a two-stroke engine.

The cylinders 1, 2, 3,4 are provided with the usual pistons p, connectin'grods 7'; inlet valves 5 and exhaust valves e, these valves.

being shown operatedin the usual manner by cams 0 upon a half-speed cam shaft 5 driven from the crankshaft 6. by means of gears 5 These cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4 except as repards the ignition of-their char es work as in any ordinary four-stroke engine.

Between the. cylinders 12 and 34 respectively are higher-pressure cylinders 7 and 8, each provided with piston P and connecting rod R operated by the same cranksmaller compression spaces than the cylinders 1-2 and 34, so that if the bore and stroke of all six cvlinders arealike, the cvlinders 7 and 8 will give higher compression to their contents than the cylinders 1. 2, 3, 4. These highercompression cylinders or pumping cylinders 7 and 8 may be of the same bore as, or of. a difl erent bore from,

shaft 6. These cylinders 7. and 8 have that of the lower-pressure cylinders; The crank chamber is shown at'C. and are the usual water jackets.

Between the cylinder 7 and'the cylinders 1 and 2, are passages a a leading from the compression spaceof the pumping cylinder 7 to the compression I spaces of the -lowerpressure cylinders 1 and 2.1 In thesepassages a a I arrange valves nand 9 whereby the cylinder 7 can be-put' in communication first with cylinder 1 and then "with cylinder 2. Similarly between cylinder 8 and cylinders 3 and 4 are passages a a1 and valves 10 and-10 These valves 9, 9 ".and 10, 10 are shown as oscillating valves provided with crank arms 11 to which are pivoted as at ll spring-controlled rods 12 operated by cams 12 on the shaft 5. T herods .12 are shown fitted with returning springs 12". I

The ignition valves employed" to permit communication between the higher-pressure cylinder and the low-pressure cylinder (or cylinders) may be of any suitable type.

T he cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4 operate on the four-stroke cycle, but the higher-pressure cylinder '4' or 8 not having inlet or exhaust valves of the usual type, affords a compression stroke on each outward 2'. e. away from the crankshaft movement of the piston P.

Thus while the cylinders 1, 2, 3, 1 operate on the four-stroke cycle the central cylinders 7 and 8 work practically on the two-stroke cycle and deliver to the lower-pressure cylinders 1 or 2 and 3 or 4 alternately, the charge of more highly compressed burnt gas which by its introduction effects the selfignition of the explosive charges contained in each lower-pressure cylinder. The lowerpressure cylinder of which the piston is not on the working stroke is of course on its suction stroke while the two other pistons are moving toward the crankshaft.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, the pistons 39 1) 1n cylinders 1 and 2 are completing their respective exhaustion and compression strokes, and the piston P in cylinder 7 is just completing its outward or compression stroke. It will be understood that the explosive mixture in the lower-pressure cylinders 1, 2,

3, 1 is compressed at such a rate or ratio of compression as to avoid spontaneous ignition and to allow ignition to take place only after the intercommunicating passage between the high-pressure cylinder and lowpressure cylinder has been opened.

The interconnnunication valves between the high-pressure and lower-pressure cylinders not only open to allow the gaseous contents of the high-pressure cylinder to pass into the'lower-pressure cylinders to ignite the compressed charge in the latter, but also remain open during the whole or part of the working stroke of the piston in the lowerpressure cylinder so as to allow part of the gases from such explosion to pass into the higher-pressure cylinder, allowing the work to be performed by both cylinders and replenishing the contents of the higher-pressure cylinder. Each ignition valve 9, 9 10, 10 may remain open during the whole of the working stroke in the lower-pressure cylinder, but because of the rapid fall in pressure which would occur due to the opening of the usual exhaust valve in the lower-pressure cylinder, the valve 9, 9 10, 10 preferably closes before the end of the working stroke, for instance, simultaneously with the opening of the exhaust valve 6. It is understood that the valve 9, 9 10, 10 must be in the closed position at the end of the working stroke.

The point of ignition can be varied.by altering the moment at which communication takes place between the higher-pressure cylinder and the low-pressure cylinder. Thus the point of ignition can be advanced or ret-arded as in the case of present day electric or jump-spark ignition.

For this purpose I have shown by way of example in Figs. 3 and 5, means for controlling the timing of the explosion. 'The rods 12 for the oscillating ignition valves 9,9 10, 10 The shaft 13 is adapted to be part rotated by a worm 16 and worm wheel 17 so that the position of all the cranks 14 can be simultaneously changed. In this manner the time at which the rods 12 are raised by their cams relatively to the angular position of the said cams, can be varied and as will be understood the rods 12 are returned by their springs 12. The arrangement shown in matical.

For starting or cranking purposes, a charge of compressed air may be introduced in the known manner into one of the working cylinders; other methods of initial starting may, however, be employed. I wish it to be understood that at the commencement of working, the charge of explosive mixture in the lowerpressure cylinders will be ignited by the extra-compressed charge of either air or burnt gases from the higherpressure cylinder, which extra-compressed charge is forced through the ignition valve into the compressed explosive mixture in the lower-pressure cylinder. After starting burnt gas from previous explosions in cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 is compressed in the cylinders 7 and 8 and pumped through the ignition valves.

In the case of a two-stroke engine each low-pressure cylinder as 1 will be fitted with a high-pressure cylinder as 7 Such an arrangement is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6 where 9 is the ignition valve opened once each revolution of the crankshaft 6.

An eccentric 17 on the crankshaft 6 is shownprovided with an eccentric strap 18 and rod 19 pivoted at 20 to a rocking lever arm 21. This lever arm 21 is fulcrumed on the axis of valve 9. r

It will be noted that the length of the passage a between the pumping cylinder 7 and the cylinder 1 or 2 is exceedingly short, and

tical cylinders, these cylinders may be hori- I der, ineans for allowing the exhaust to. es-

cape from said cylinder, a second cylinder separate from the first cylinder, said second cylinder having no communication between its interior and the atmosphere, a chamber in the head of said second cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in said second cylinder, and said second cylinder forming a higher-compression cylinder, said last-mentioned piston being separate from the firstmentioned piston, a passage between ,the head of said second cylinder and the combustion chamber of said first-mentioned cylinder, a valve arranged in said passage, means for periodically opening and closing said valve, and a crank shaft to which said pistons are connected so that said pistons move inwardly or outwardly together, said means for opening or closing the'valve being actuated by said crank shaft, said valve allowing the explosive charge in said first cylinder to be auto-ignited from the higher pressure cylinder, and said valve serving also to allow the contents in burnt gases of said higher pressure cylinder to be replenished from the explosion in said first cylcharge and then the replenishment of the gaseous contents of the higher-pressure cylinderh 2. An internal combustion engine of the type described, comprising separated cylinders arranged parallel to. one another, a separate piston arranged in each cylinder, a.

I crank shaft, rods connecting each. of said pistons with said crank shaft, said cylinders being of respectively high and-lower compression, the high compression cylinder of the forced injection of burnt gas from having no communication with the atmos phere, a chamber in the head of each cylinder, a passage between said chambers, a

valve interposed in said passage, and means.

for opening and closing said valve, said valve-opening means being adjustable as to the moment of opening and said valve being opened to allow communication between the ,high and low compression cylinders when auto-ignition is to take place, as the result the higher-compression cylinder.

3. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprising separated cylinders, arranged parallel to one another, a iston and connecting rod in each cylinder, a crank chamber, a crank-shaft journaled in said crank chamber and with which said connecting rods are engaged, compression spaces in the heads of sa1d cyllnders, sa1d 'spaces being respectively high compression and lower compression, the interior of the cylinder with high compression space having -no communication with the atmosphere, a

single passage between each lower compression space and a higher compression space, a

valve interposed in each said passage and means for periodically opening each said valve to allow communication between the higher compression spaceand each lower compression space which it serves, so as to efiect first auto-ignition of the charge and then replenishment of the gaseous contents of the higher compression cylinder.

4. An internal combustion engine, comprising a crank-case, separate, parallel cylinders mounted upon'said crank case, a

crank shaft journaled in said crank-case, a

separate piston in each cylinder and connecting rods connecting said separate pistons with said crank shafts, said cylinders having compression spaces forming heads and combustion chambers, and being respect-ivel-y of higher and lower compres- 1 sion, the interior of the cylinder with high compression space being at all times closed against atmospheric air, a direct passage between the combustion chamber of each lower compression cylinder and the head of a higher compressioncylinder, and a valve arranged in each said passage and adapted to be mechanically opened periodicially so as to allow communication between the higher compression cylinder and the lower compression cylinder which it serves, so as to effect first the auto-ignition of the inder.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the

spaces, means for varying the moment at which said valve is opened, said valve when opened enabling first the higher-compression cylinder to pump a firing-charge of extra compressed burnt gas into the lower compression cylinder, and subsequently enabling the gases from the explosion in the lowercompression cylinder to'pass into the higher compression cylinder until the exhaust stroke of the piston in the lower-compression'cylinder is finished.

6. An internal combustion engine, comprising a low-compression cylinder having a piston adapted to be reciprocated therein, a separate higher-compression cylinder having a piston adapted to be reciprocated therein, said higher compression cylinder having no communication interiorly with the atmosphere, means for admitting explosive mixture to said lower-compression cylinder and for exhausting the burnt gases therefrom, a passage between the compression spaces of said cylinders, an ignition valve arranged in said passage and periodically allowing communication between said com pression spaces, said valve when opened enabling first the higher-compression cylinder to pump a firing charge of extra compressed burnt gas into the lower compression cylinder, and subsequently enabling the gases from the explosion in the lower-compression cylinder to pass into the higher-compression cylinder until the exhaust stroke of the piston in the lowercompression cylinder is finished, and means for varying the moment at which the ignition valve is opened, so that the timing of the explosion can be varied.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a pair of cylinders each having apiston and working on the four-stroke cycle, said cylinders being of lower compression, a cylinder of higher compression arranged between said first-mentioned cylinders and having a piston therein, all said pistons having connecting rods connected with a crank-shaft, the interior of said intermediate cylinder not being exposed to the air, compression spaces in each of said cylinders, a passage between the compression space of the higher compression cylinder and each of the compression spaces of the lower-compression cylinders, a valve arranged in each said passage, means for periodically opening and closing said valves, said valves being arranged to open alternately so that the firing charge is pumped from the higher-compression cylinder alternately into the lower-compression cylinders.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinders of a fourstroke cycle motor, of pumping cylinders of higher-compression having no internal communication with the atmosphere and arranged one intermediately of each pair of cylinders of the four-stroke cycle motor, said pumping cylinders having each a compression space and each a piston reciprocated by the crank shaft of the aforesaid motor, a passage between the compression space of each pumping cylinder and the compression spaces of the c linders which'it serves, an ignition controlling valve arranged in each said passage, and means for periodically opening and closing said valves to allow the explosive clifiges in the cylinders of the four-stroke motor to be auto-ignited in turn by injections of compressed burnt gas from the pumping cylinders.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders, a piston in each of said cylinders, said pistons having connecting rods connected by a'crank shaft, said cylinders consisting of four-stroke cycle cyl- -ind ers arranged in pairs, with intermediate cylinders not of the four-stroke cycle type, a

cam-fitted shaft, said four-stroke cylinders having valves operated by said cam-fitted shaft, a piston to each of said intermediate cylinders, compression spaces to all of said cylinders, the compression spaces of the intermediate cylinders being of less volume than those of the four-stroke cycle cylinder, a valve-controlled passage between the compression spaces of each four-stroke cycle cylinder of a pair and the intermediate cylinder, means for opening said valves alternately so that said intermediate cylinder delivers its firing charge alternately to each of its four-stroke cycle cylinders, said means for opening said valves bein actuated and controlled by the cam-fitted s aft.

10. An improved internal combustion engine of the type referred to, in which sepa rated cylinders are employed, each cylinder having a separate piston and connecting rod, and said cvlinders com rising pumping cylinders and lower-comnression cylinders, the former having no internal communication with the atmosphere, a single rectilinear pas sage being provided between each pumping cylinder and each one of the lower-pressure cylinders which it serves, with a valve arranged in each said single passage, which valve is arranged to be periodically opened by the engine and means for altering the moment of opening said valve, so that the pumping cylinder can force the firing charge of compressed burnt gas from its head directly and in an adjustable manner through the rectilinear passage into the combustion head of the cylinder containing the explosive charge.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE DE ALBERTIS.

Witnesses:

MAURICE E. Fox, Vro'ron F. Fnnmr. 

